I don't know the specific hotels you mention, but if I had to choose between Nuevo and Vallarta I'd pick Vallarta (based on four trips to the area). Nuevo is a fairly new strip of tourist hotels and tourist amenities, while Vallarta still retains some of the small city charm even as the tourist hotels were built around it and surely has more class.

20 minutes doesn't sound like much of a drive but you will tire of it quickly if you stay in Nuevo, I think.

Bill

If you want culture stay in PV & get thee to some of the neighborhoods. Lots of great areas to walk & explore

20 mins, that's a laugh, by rocket ship maybe ?
Depending on traffic 45min to an hour is more likely.
Puerto Vallarta has been a city a long time, Nuevo Vallarta was never a city, it was developed as a tourist resort area and is full of resorts & hotels and not much else.
Public transport in Puerto Vallarta is excellent, no need to rent a car.

Nuevo Vallarta is the Cancun-styled new development resort area to the north of Puerto Vallarta. It's 20 mins from the airpot and probably 40 mins from downtown proper.

From the way you describe yourselves I'd think you want to stay in PV. That said, I am unfamiliar wtih the specific resorts you mention.

If you stay IN Puerto Vallarta getting around on foot, by bus, and taxi is very reasonable.

Staying out in Nuevo you'd likely want to rent a car.

Oh! That's good to know, I'm really glad I asked!!

It definately sounds like PV is a better bet for us, probably more our speed since we're really not into being stuck at a resort.

How are either of these 2 hotels, Mayan Palace or Raintree Club Regina?

We loved Nuevo V. in 2005. Lots of hotels on the strip and a local village nearby as well as lots of rental properties and activities. The local buses where great, and cheap. A taxi into town was 40.00 US for the four of us as opposed to the 6.00 ea. by local bus. It was worth the few pecos just to ride the Puerto V blue town buses on the one way streets. Just like a Disney ride. Loved walking around PV not just the waterfront, but noisy and bustling. Preferred the quieter pace of NV, lots of tours, horseback riding, whale watching, sunset sailing etc. from there as well as the 20 minute walk down the beach - from the Decameron hotel to the little town of Bucerias. We only did two day trips into Puerto Vallarta. They are about 40 minutes travel apart, with the bus change from intown buses to motor coaches to outside town at the Walmart PV.

Have you checked the reviews on Trip Advisor?

Sorry as I always stay at little local places I'm not familiar with the resorts.

At least I've heard of Mayan Palace. "Raintree Club Regina" is a new name to me.

It's called the Westin Regina here. Both places are in the Marina, see map:
http://vallartainfo.com/marina.html

The Westin hotel in the Marina got a great review on the Travel Channel on TV not long ago (on a 10 best beach resorts in Mexico program). Property looked fantastic the way they showed it. I was interested because I don't hear the resort mentioned that often.

Hi, First of all, if you have not already made a reservation at a hotel, I think you will have trouble getting a room in Jan. or Feb. at any of those Hotels. Second if you can get a reservation, definitely NOT at Nuevo Vallarta unless you want to be isolated. You can endure a cheap bus ride to Vallarta or much more costly a taxie or rent a car which I do and you can figure on 3 to 400 a week for a car rental as they have all kinds of taxes and insurance on car rentals.The Mayan Palace and the Club Regina are in an excellent location on the road that fronts the beautiful Marina with many great restaurants, and much closer to town. Many of the popular well known Hotel Chains including the Marriott have Hotels on that road.I have stayed at that Mayan Hotel and it is a very nice hotel but kind of boring. The Regina is much better with much more activity and is closer to the Marina. Good luck in getting a room. Bill Chappell

OOPS, I think I made a mistake when I said the Regina was closer to the Marina. I forgot that fact. Looking at the map, you can see that the regina is closer to the Marina. Regardless I would still try for the Regina. Anyway they are all very close walking distance to the Marina. There are many walk throughs to enter the Marina area with all its beautiful ships, fishing tours, shops, and restaurants including one of me favorite restaurants, Victor's. Thank You, Bill Chappell

OOPS AGAIN, SORRY, MUST BE TOO EARLY IN THE MORNING. I meant to say the Mayan is closer(not much) to the Marina. Please excuse my error. Vallarta is being way too over built, you will see that when you get there. Personally I think they are "Killing the goose that laid the golden egg" The taxie drivers are like suicide drivers. You will see that when you get to Vallarta. It is almost inpossible to get a parking space in town, so for that matter a taxie is better so you can be dropped off where you wish to go. Vallarta has an area in front of the ocean about a mile long called the Malecon which is really great for people watching, statues, shops, restaurants,drinking joints. One bad thing Vallarta did was tear down some of the beautiful "Peoples Parks" and make parking lots. One great thing about Vallarta is that there is hundreds of very excellent restaurants of all cusines. Bill Chappell

I would definitely stay in P.V. and the Westin Regina is located right in the Marina along the beach actually it's right near the Marriott it's a great location a lot to do along there and easily accesible to town you can take a cab or bus to anywhere from there.The Mayan Palace is also a nice hotel too.

We have a timeshare with Club Regina or Raintree properties and of all the locations we like the one in PV the best. The pool area is wonderful, the beach close, you can walk to the marina for dinner if you want. It is fairly close to town.

It is a good choice

My fiance and I are going to Nuevo Vallarta in a few weeks (2nd wk of Jan) for our honeymoon. My parents also gifted us the honeymoon wherever we wanted and we chose to stay at teh Grand Mayan Wyndham. We are renting a car, mainly because we like to be able to come adn go as we choose instead of waiting for a bus or having to find a pick-up spot. I understand that there are parking garages downtown now so parking is not an issue and we got a wk rental for approx. $200 (without the fees/insurance) through Dollar Rent a Car.

I think it really depends on what type of travel you prefer (more people, or less populated - having a guide show you around or finding your own places on your own time, etc).

This will be our first trip to Puerto Vallarta too so I am going based on our preferences and reviews that I've read all over (Virtual Tourist website, Yahoo! Travel website, and AAA travel website).

If you end up being finding out anything useful, please let me know. Thanks

Let me know if you need any questions about Puerto Vallarta, since it's your first trip, happy to help if I can. I spend a lot of time there.

My family goes to PV every year, and now bought timeshare at the Sheraton. We LOVE it there. Haven't stayed in NV, but have heard it is WAY out of the way and not convenient to go into PV. The Sheraton is the first resort north of town, so we walk almost everywhere, or take the bus. Always feel safe and welcome. Lots to do, or you can just chill on the beach. Haven't come across a restaurant that we didn't like yet. Many we LOVE. Take a taxi to Pitillal (sp?) and eat at Tino's. A great seafood restaurant.